It turns out “How do you wallpaper a ceiling” is a highly googled phrase and the answers are varied. When we advise a client to wallpaper a ceiling as part of our design concept, we give it a lot more thought than just which wallpaper would look good.

A Case Study for Wallpapering a Ceiling

For our Rancho Santa Fe client, we knew the ceiling was the only place to install wallpaper. Fortunately, it was also the place that would offer the most impact. In this case, we recommended a beautiful Phillip Jeffries wallpaper called Gold Leaf Overall – Rio De Janeiro. Aside from just installing wallpaper to the ceiling we had other considerations. The 5-foot-tall chandelier needed to be removed and stored while scaffolding was positioned allowing the installer to reach the ceiling.

Planning a wallpapered ceiling takes more forethought than a regular wall

The Steps We Took

The first step was to schedule the electrician to construct a place to store the chandelier and then carefully remove it and hang it in the crate for safe keeping.  Next step was to schedule the installation of scaffolding. It’s important to use a crew that is familiar with interior scaffold installation to ensure you don’t end up with a system that was recently used outdoors and covered in construction dirt that could potentially mess up floors and walls.

Then for the fun part! The installer is scheduled to complete the installation. He or she will carefully measure and cut the wallpaper to fit the ceiling.  In this case, the reflective surface of the wallpaper needed special attention to avoid smearing adhesive on the face that could leave smudges. I love installation days, and got up close to inspect the finished project before the scaffolding came down.

In Conclusion

It takes a fair amount of planning and coordination. Not all projects require the removal of light fixtures or scaffolding, but it’s important to figure it out before hand to ensure everything goes smoothly. The end results are definitely worth it!

More Inspiration

You can find the whole project in our portfolio. You’ll also find photos of the primary bedroom where we wallpapered the ceiling but with a very different effect. It’s fascinating how the right wallpaper in the right location can transform a room.

Are you consider a wallpaper for your home? We would love to explore that project with you. We have exquisite wallpapers and endless ideas. Let us show you how to use it to infuse personality into any room in your home.

Myrna Everett is the founder of Home Vogue Interiors where we specialize in custom window fashions and other soft home goods. If you have enjoyed this blog post, please share it with others. If you are ready to start a conversation about your next project click on the “Your Project” button above and tell us what you’re working on and we’ll reach out to you and help you get started.